Declan Donnelly

Declan Donnelly is a British actor, television presenter, screenwriter, producer and composer. In this article, we will take a detailed look at his biography and most popular projects, and talk about the celebrity's personal life.

Biography of Declan Donnelly

The full name of the British actor and television presenter is Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly. He was born on 25 September 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Declan Donnelly's youth

The future singer and actor studied at Mount St Mary's College in Newcastle. From his teenage years, he took part in local television shows and talent contests. In 1987, while filming the children's television show Byker Grove, he met Antonio ‘Antony’ McCartney, his future partner in Ant & Dec.

Declan Donnelly is a fan of Newcastle United FC (his hometown team) and sometimes participates in charity football matches.

Siblings

Ant McPartlin grew up in a large family with seven children. He has siblings. He was the youngest among them.

The TV presenter's brothers are called Eamonn Donnelly, Martin Donnelly and Dermott Donnelly. His sisters are Camelia, Patricia Donnelly and Moira Donnelly.

Parents

The actor and TV presenter's father, Dermott Donnelly, worked as a builder and part-time truck driver. His mother, Helen (née Shearer) Donnelly, was a homemaker.

Declan Donnelly's career

Declan Donnelly is best known for his work with Ant McPartlin as part of the duo Ant & Dec. He rose to fame after appearing in the children's television series Byker Grove, which aired on British television from 1989 to 2006. In this series, he played the character Duncan's.

It is noteworthy that in his youth, Declan Donnelly planned to become a Catholic priest, but he changed his mind after seeing the students at Sacred Heart Catholic School.

After leaving Byker Grove in 1993, the duo Ant & Dec, which included Declan Donnelly, continued to develop in pop music. They recorded two albums under the names PJ & Duncan (the names of the characters in the series). The duo's most famous song, ‘Let's Get Ready To Rhumble,’ was nominated for a BRIT Award.

Before the release of their third album, the duo changed their names to their real names, but in abbreviated versions — Ant & Dec. The most famous song on the third album was ‘Shout.’

In 2006, viewers could see Donnelly in the film Alien Autopsy. He played the central role of Rhea, a pirate video salesman. In 2014, Declan played himself in the film Text Santa.

Declan Donnelly is actively involved in philanthropic activities and participates in charitable projects, including campaigns aimed at supporting children and medical research.

TV shows with Declan Donnelly

Over the years of his career, Declan Donnelly has participated in a large number of television projects. The artist's list of TV credits is truly impressive:

1. SMTV Live (1998–2003) – a morning show for children and teenagers on ITV.
2. Friends Like These.
3. Pop Idol.
4. Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
5. I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
6. Push the Button (quiz show).
7. PokerFace.
8. Britain's Got Talent.

In 2002, Ant & Dec took part in the sequel to the English sitcom The Likely Lads. The project Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has been running since 2002. It is a high-rated entertainment show with games and pranks involving famous people. Equally popular is the project I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, the first season of which also aired in 2002. Ant & Dec have been its hosts for many years. The reality show depicts the survival of celebrities who find themselves in the jungle.

Since the very first season in 2007, Declan and Ant have hosted the show Britain's Got Talent. Only in 2018 did Dec host the project alone, as his colleague took a break from work. Donnelly has achieved success not only as a presenter, but also as a producer, generating ideas and, together with Ant, participating in the development of formats and staging of shows: Britain's Got Talent, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

In 2004, Ant and Dec topped the list of the 10 most popular presenters in England. Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin have been working together for more than three decades, and their duo is one of the longest-running in British show business.

Declan Donnelly's personal life

Declan Donnelly's personal life is the subject of intense public interest. News about the presenter regularly appears in the British media. It is noteworthy that, despite his popularity, the artist describes himself as a reserved and modest person.

Not long ago, newspapers wrote about Donnelly being bitten by a spider. The incident occurred during the filming of the reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! The arachnid first landed on the script held by the presenter, then moved to his neck, where it attacked. Declan received prompt medical attention, and fortunately, the spider was not poisonous.

Wife

In November 2024, Declan Donnelly got engaged to Ali Astall. On 1 August 2015, the couple got married at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Elswick, in Newcastle. Photos from the ceremony were published on the internet.

Ali Astall was Ant & Dec's manager before she started dating the artist.

Before getting married, Declan Donnelly dated Clare Buckfield for about 10 years, from 1993 to 2003. He also had a romantic relationship with Georgie Thompson for about two years, from 2009 to 2011. In addition, journalists attributed to him a romance with Ashley Roberts, a participant in "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2012.

Children

Declan Donnelly's first daughter was born on 1 September 2018 and was named Isla Elizabeth Anne. The public learned about the addition to the presenter's family when Ali Astall was pregnant. The presenter's second child, Jack Anthony Alphonsus Donnelly, was born on 23 July 2022. Declan Donnelly tries to balance his television career with raising his children.

Net worth

Declan Donnelly's net worth is estimated to be between £60 and £65 million. His main source of income is television shows. The presenter also owns a joint venture with McPartlin: Hurley Promotions Ltd.

The artist is a media personality, so he is often offered collaborations with major brands. He receives additional income from advertising campaigns. Declan invests part of his earnings in real estate.

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